2016 Mazda CX-5: windshield wiper failure

Filed Oct 27, 2026 · Electrical, Visibility · WA

My windshield wipers stopped working completely. I am unable to see out my front window properly while its raining. Yes the dealership said that my front body control module needs to be replaced which is the same issue that other Mazdas from the same era have had safety recalls for (the federal safety agency campaign 19v272000). No it hasn't been inspected by anyone other than a Mazda dealership. The front wipers slowly stopped working. First the highest setting didn't work at all, then the wipers would work sporadically, and now they don't work at all.

Filed May 27, 2026 · Visibility · WA

(I am the owner of the car and am filling this out for my daughter who was driving it at the time, I was not with her during the incident) While driving down the road in the rain the wipers just stopped working. I have not had any dealers ID the specific problem yet. We replaced the wiper 20amp fuse and it did not fix the problem. There were no warning lamps and there are still no warning lamps. My safety was put into danger when I could not see out the window. I was nearly at work so I waited for the rain to slow down some was able to make it to work. The rain cleared while I was at work and it has not rained since. It is available for inspection upon request.

Filed Oct 25, 2024 · Visibility · LA

Front windshield wipers stopped working, front windshield washer still working. Fuse was checked, fuse is good.Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. My safety is put at risk because of lack of visibility when driving in rain. The problem has been confirmed by a Mazda dealership. The vehicle and the components have been inspected by a Mazda dealership. No warning lights or messages appeared before or after the front windshield wipers stopped working. So if a person is driving the car, there is no indication that the front windshield wipers will not work if it starts raining and the driver would need to use the front windshield wipers. This is a safety hazard because the driver will not be able to see, possibly causing an accident. This Mazda CX5 does not have automatic front windshield wipers (they do not come on automatically when it starts raining).

Filed Oct 9, 2024 · Lights, Visibility · CA

The controls on the Windshield Wiper/Headlight Control Stalk are not visible when driving at night. The setting markings on the Control Stalk are completely dark at night. This creates a safety hazard when driving at night in the rain and turning on your windshield wipers or changing your headlight settings is needed.

Filed Sep 16, 2024 · Visibility · HI

Front windshield wipers not working, bcm failed

Filed Mar 24, 2024 · Visibility · WA

In September of 2023, while driving I attempted to use the windshield wipers, and they would not function. We live in a rainy part of the country, so having non working wipers is a major safety issue. Research for possible causes pointed to the body control module which had been recalled on Mazda 3s in recent years. I took the car to the dealership, and they traced the problem to an internal failure of the body control module. I do not have the component to inspect, and I do not know what the dealership did with it after removal. We filed a complaint with Mazda in October of 2023. They gave us case #001-463-33. They were not receptive to feedback, and simply stated many times that there was not a current recall for our vehicle. There were no warning signs/messages/ lights before the wipers stopped working, and they had worked normally the day before.

Filed Jan 18, 2022 · Electrical, Visibility · IL

This is a follow up to the federal safety agency complaint ID Number 11442992: After doing a fair amount of research the problem was deemed to be the Front Body Control Module. A new replacement was ordered (about $250). It took about 1-1/2 to 2 weeks for the module to be received and about an hour for its installation. So far the wipers seem to be working correctly although they have yet been 'used', only tested. Googling "mazda wiper problem" you will find others reporting similar problems with the Body Control Module. I found this (https://www.mazda3revolution.com/threads/for-those-suffering-wiper-motor-issues-here-is-the-fix.232623/) forum entry when I did the aforementioned google search. And finally, post replacement I have visually inspected the original module and can easily see one of the components marked "2741" with corrosion around its mounting.

Filed Dec 7, 2021 · Visibility · IL

2016 Mazda CX-5 windshield wipers - Correctly operating windshield wipers have four modes: single wipe, intermittent wipe, slow continuous wipe, high speed continuous wipe. One morning (September, 2021) used the single wipe mode to clear overnight accumulated moisture (car parked outside) but wiper made five passes instead of one and then stopped in an 'up' or 'non-parked' position. Tried the other three modes and all three behaved the same way, five wiper passes and then the wipers stopped, sometimes upright blocking forward vision, sometimes at an angle, but never in the 'parked' position. Driving in rain or snow requires activating the wipers every 30 seconds or so (approximate time of 5 wipes). Have had the wiper motor (which includes a circuit board) replaced twice to no avail. Today had wiper switch replaced, again to no avail. This problem seems to be similar to windshield wiper problem reported regarding 2016-2018 Mazda CX-3's.

Filed Jul 16, 2018 · Electrical, Lights · 59,000 miles · OH

Led daytime running light on passenger-side headlight flickers and is very dim. On a few occasions, the driver of vehicle in front stated that it looked as if my headlight was out as well. Vehicle is only 3-years old. Mileage should not affect electiral LED components. Drl's or headlights are required during adverse weather conditions or when operating the windshield wipers.

Filed Jun 21, 2016 · Visibility · 14,200 miles · TN

Was driving to work when I heard a succession of loud popping noises coming from the windshield area. As I was on a divided interstate with no vehicles in front or beside me, it was a bit strange that I had two cracks appear in the center of my windshield and another one running from the bottom right side of the windshield under the wiper blade. I pulled over immediately to see if there was anyone around because it was clearly not caused by another vehicle. I phoned the sheriff's department to report the incident, as I was unsure what had happened. A deputy met me at work (18 miles from where the incident happened) to look at the damage, the latter of which now stretched about 4 inches past the center of the windshield, and told me that the area where I was driving had been checked immediately by officers, that there was no one in the area, and that no other complaints had been reported. Even the officer was baffled by the unexplainable occurrence of the breaks, especially since there were no other vehicles either in front, behind, or beside me for as far as I could see (long, flat stretch of interstate, so visibility was excellent). The vehicle had less than 16000 miles on it when this happened.

Filed Feb 16, 2016 · Visibility · 17,000 miles · CT

On multiple occasions, when temperatures are 25 f or lower and it is snowing or raining it is impossible to keep the windshield clear of ice. While driving at normal speeds 25 to 50 MPH on local roads and highways, the snow would melt on contact with the windshield, refreeze, and the wipers would freeze solid and not make contact with the windshield over the majority of the windshield. I had to stop every several minutes and use a scraper to remove the windshield ice to see safely. This condition makes for very difficult and dangerous winter precipitation driving. The only chance of of getting minimal viewing area was to keep the function selector on full defrost, the temperature selector on full heat and the fan on high. This was still a losing battle and extremely uncomfortable in the vehicle. The fan noise is incredibly loud, the wipers are loaded with ice and thumping on the windshield and your face gets ridiculously hot because on the defrost function more air is directed back at the side windows than is directed at the windshield. What an extremely poor design and function of a basic defrost system. Even during cold weather with no precipitation the poor function of the defrost system cannot keep the windshield free of fogging over unless the selectors are set on full fan, heat and defrost. Now we have to live with a car that should be a great, safe all wheel drive, all weather vehicle in new england that can't handle defrosting the windshield during our winters.

Filed Jan 28, 2016 · Visibility · 4,600 miles · MD

On multiple occasions, when temperatures are 25 f or lower and it is snowing, it is impossible to keep the windshield clear of ice. While driving at normal speeds 25 to 50 MPH on local roads and highways, the snow would melt on contact with the windshield, refreeze, and the wipers would freeze solid and not make contact with the windshield over a large part of the glass directly in front of the driver and front seat passenger's eyes. No change was noted when the car was idling at stop signs or red lights. We had to stop every several minutes and use a scraper to remove the windshield ice to see safely. This condition makes for very difficult and dangerous winter precipitation driving. Ironically, we bought this all-wheel vehicle mainly for just this type of driving in snowy mountain areas where we drive frequently. The car was taken to the dealer and inspected under warranty. The technician inspected the defroster and wipers and said everything was working properly and there is nothing they can do to improve the situation. We don't know what to do as the care does not preform under the exact winter conditions we primarily bought it for.